![](/system/files/styles/large/private/art/59783/7c1cc4d6_1bcd_49ae_9748_bb7405effc58_-_susanne_rodgers_-_heart_lake_ss_2462.jpg?itok=BfGPk-dY)
The Duality of Serenity and Anxiety
, 2021
Acrylic Paint on Wood Panel
For this self-portrait, I represented the duality between where I literally feel at peace and what it metaphorically feels like to deal with anxiety (personally). For one, I love the water and was a competitive swimmer for many years. So me being submerged underwater represents the literal peacefulness I feel. Conversely, I also deal with anxiety, mostly triggered by school workload and being overwhelmed. So for me, when I feel overwhelmed and anxious, it feels like I'm suffocating and stuck underwater without air. Being submerged underwater captures and represents my anxiety in a metaphorical way. Showing a physical representation of what is going through my mind when I’m overwhelmed.